A UN conference to negotiate a legally binding treaty to ban nuclear weapons opens in New York today. 113 states agreed to the conference by a General Assembly resolution last December. Negotiators will meet for 5 days to draw up a pact to eliminate nuclear arms. Negotiators will initially focus on establishing that the weapons are illegal. <br/><br/>The United States, Russia and other nuclear-weapon states are not in attendance. They say the issue of genuine security is missing from the agenda. Japan has not made clear whether it will participate in the talks.<br/><br/>The treaty is to ban nuclear weapons based on the interpretation they are in breach of international laws. About 123 UN members announced in last October that they would launch the UN conference to negotiate a legally binding nuclear ban treaty, even as most of the world's declared and undeclared nuclear powers voted against the talks.The United States and Russia say the negotiations lack the realistic perspective of international security.

The conference to negotiate a legally binding treaty to ban nuclear weapons begins at the United Nations headquarters in New York today. More than 100 countries are expected to take part in the negotiations. They will likely focus on how to substantiate the illegality of nuclear weapons. <br/><br/>The treaty is to ban nuclear weapons based on the interpretation they are in breach of international laws. About 123 UN members announced in last October that they would launch the UN conference to negotiate a legally binding nuclear ban treaty, even as most of the world's declared and undeclared nuclear powers voted against the talks.The United States and Russia say the negotiations lack the realistic perspective of international security.